Bracelet connecter



Nov. 3, 1931. c. A. DOMLER 1,330,020

BRACELET CONNECTER Filed Dec. 15. 1930 W ,fil WWW mi; Wrzzew- Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GHARLES A. DOMLER, OF PROVDDENGE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE HADLEY COMPANY, INC., OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND BRACELET CONNECTEB Application filed December 15, 1930. Serial No. 502,288.

This invention relates to watch bracelets, and pertains more particularly to improved means for connecting a bracelet end to a wrist watch or the like. The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact and attractive fastening particularly suitable for ladies watch bracelets, which is economical to manufacture yet durable and wear-resisting in use, and which may easily be attached to a small sized or baguette watch by the wearer or jewelry retainer, either before or after adjusting the length of the bracelet to proper wrist size.

Further objects reside in the several advantageous features of the connecter hereinafter described and defined in the appended claims. It will be understood, however, that the specific structural details of the recommended embodiment herein disclosed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, may be varied to suit particular purposes without departing from the essence of this invention, except as it may be limited by said claims. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top view of a wrist watch attached to a pair of bracelet sections by means of the improved connecters;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing an optional mode of attaching the connecter to the watch;

Fig. 3 is a plan view to larger scale of a removable loop member constituting part of the connecter;

Fig. 4 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fi 6 is an enlarged bottom view of a clasp member of the connecter;

Figs. 7 and 8 are sections taken on lines 77 and 88 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing one end of the loop member attached to the clasp;

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the connected loop, clasp and bracelet end;

Fig. 11 is a top View of a modified form of watch, illustrating the mode of attaching the connecter loop thereto; and

Fig. 12 is a bottom View of a further modification, showing a beaded bracelet and beaded loop member connected by the improved clasp.

The improved fastening may be employed forconnecting the end of a bracelet band or section to a wrist watch or other article of jewelry which is provided with a connecting eye; and the connecter comprises a clasp member 12 which is preferably clamped upon the bracelet end 14, and a loop part 13 passing through the eye 15 of the attached article and having its ends secured by the clasp 12.

The watch 16 of Fig. 1 is provided with a pair of rings or eyes 15 at each side; in the arrangement of Fig. 2, the eye forms part of an end hook 17 which is attached in the usual manner to the bail 18 of the watch 19; and the watch 20 of Fig. 11 has a single eye at each side of its case. It will be apparent, however, that the precise formation or arrangement of the connecting eye ring or apertured lug is not essential to this invention; for it may be attached to the watch in many ways or may form part of another article of jewelry to which the bracelet end is fastened. Furthermore, it will be understood that the bracelet band connected to a wrist watch or the like in the manner herein described, may be formed of leather, fabric, cord, or metal of appropriate construction, and may be equipped with any common form of separable clasp or extensible attachment permitting its easy application to the wrist.

The clasp member 12 preferably consists of a sheet metal box open'at its opposite ends and having one or more ductile tabs or tongues on its bottom side for clamping the ends of the bracelet and loop respectively therewithin. In the specific form shown in the drawings, the box-like clasp is of tapered contour, being wider at the end in which the bracelet 14 is inserted, and said end has a pair of bottom ears or tabs 21 disposed opposite each other and bendable inwardly from the sides of the clasp onto the inserted end of the bracelet. The top or cover portion of the clasp may have one or more downwardly projecting teeth 22 which impale the bracelet material, and cooperate with the tabs 21 in securing the bracelet end. Hence, the bracelet is securely pinched or clamped within the clasp 12, yet it may be detached therefrom by bending the tabs 21 outwardly, to permit a portion of the bracelet to be cut off in case it needs to be shortened.

The forward or narrow end of the clasp preferably has a transverse lip or flange 23 projecting inwardly from its top portion and preferably extending downwardly in its opposite sides (Fig. 7) for engaging a recess or shoulder of the loop ends; and opposed tongues 24- are bendable inwardly over the bottom of the clasp detachably to secure the ends of the loop 18. t will be observed that either or both of the tongues 24- may be opened or closed independently of the bracelet-retaining tabs 21; and it will be apparent that one of the tongues 24 will suilice to hold one of the loop ends within the clasp 12 and these temporarily connect the loop and clasp members of the connecter.

The loop 13 of Figs. 1 to 11 is preferably formed of flexible or deformable material such as ductile wire which is durable and wear-resisting in use and which may readily be passed. through the connecting eye 15 a while one of its ends is connected to the clasp 12. Each end portion of the connecter is preferably grooved or recessed at its top and outer sides, as shown at 25, thereby providing transverse shoulders 26 engaging behind the flange or lip 23 of the clasp when the loop is applied thereto. Said flange seats in the grooves 25 and hence restrains longitudinal movement of the loop in both directions witl respect to the clasp. Either or both of the loop ends may be retained in this position by closing the tongues 24 to clamp said ends within the clasp, as aforesaid.

While the detached loop may be passed through the eye 15 and then fastened to the clasp by clamping both loop ends therewithin, a particular advantage of the described attachment resides in the provision of means for independently securing one end of the loop 13 to the clasp 12, while the other end may remain temporarily unfastened. As in dicated in Fig, 11, the free end 27 of the loop may thus be inserted through the eye .15 and then secured to the clasp, the loop being bent or twisted to whatever extent is required to thread its free end through the eye or eyes on the watch or other article.

Hence, the deformable loop will fit and conform to a variety of eye members, and a bracelet equipped with the improved fastening may be shipped by the manufacturer or sold to the customer with one end only of the loop fixed within the clasp. The dealer or user may then attach the loop to a. wrist watch or the like, either before or after adjusting the length of the bracelet, without detaching the loop from the clasp, and finally connect the free end of the loop in the manner described.

This feature of my invention is also illustrated in the modification shown in Fig.

reeaoae 12, in'which a loop member of greater flexibility than the wire loop 13, such for en ample as the beaded chain 28, is employed. .ln this instance the lip or ridge 23 of the clasp member engages between adjacent beads at the end of the chain and the tongues 24 secure the loop ends in the manner previously set forth; and the bracelet band may, if desired, be formed of beaded strands having their ends secured within the opposite end of the clasp 12 in a similar manner.

I claim:

1. A connector for attaching a bracelet end to a wrist watch or the like, comprising an open-ended, box-like clasp having in wardly bent bottom tabs for clamping the bracelet end within one end of the clasp, a loop member having its free ends detachably secured within the opposite end of the clasp, and inwardly bent tongues at said clasp end engaging the respective ends of the loop.

2. A connecter for attaching a bracelet end to a wrist watch. or the like, comprising an open-ended, bOl'idlkG clasp having an inward projection. at the rearward end. of its top portion adapted to impale the surface of a bracelet inserted within said clasp end, the clasp having integral, inwardly bent bot tom tabs engaging the opposite side of the bracelet to clamp the bracelet end within the clasp, a loop member having its free ends inserted at the forward end of the clasp, and inwardly bendable bottom tongues at said forward end for securing the respective loop ends,

3. A connecter for attaching a bracelet end to a wrist watch or the like, comprising an open-ended, box-like clasp having an inward projection at the rearward end of its top portion adapted to impale the surface of a bracelet inserted within said clasp end, the clasp having integral, inwardly bent bottom tabs engaging the opposite side of the bracelet to clamp the bracelet. end within the clasp, a loop member having its free ends inserted at the forward end of the clasp, and inwardly bendable bottom tongues at said forward end for securing the respective loop ends, the top portion of the clasp having an inwardly directed lip at its forward end and the loop ends having shoulders engaging said lip.

4.. A connector for at" aching a bracelet end to a wrist watch or the like, comprising an open-ended, box-like clasp having inwardly bent. bottom tabs at its rearward end for clamping the bracelet end within the clasp, a loop member having its ends received within the forward end of the clasp, said forward end having a lip projecting downwardly from its upper portion and the respective loop ends having recesses receiving said lip. and inwardly bendable bottom tongues at the said forward clasp end for retaining said lip in engagement with the recesses of the respective loop ends.

5. A connecter ;for attaching a bracelet end to a wrist watch or the like, comprising an open-ended, box-like clasp having inward- 1y bent, bottom tabs at its rearward end for clamping the bracelet end within the clasp, a loop member having its ends received within the forward end of the clasp, said forward end having a lip projecting downwardly.

from its upper portion and the respective loop ends having recessed receiving said lip, and inwardly bendable bottom tongues at the said forward clasp end for retaining said li in en a ement with the recesses of the P g t respective. oop ends, the loop-retaining tongues being movable independently of each other and of the bracelet-securing tabs so that either of said tongues may be opened to release one of the loop ends.

6. A connecter for attaching a bracelet end to a wrist watch or the like provided with a connecting eye, comprising a box-like, sheet metal clasp provided with opposed inwardly bendable bottom tabs and tongues, and a loop member of flexible metal adapted to thread through said eye, said tabs servingvto pinch the bracelet end within one end of the clasp, and said tongues being adapted to clamp the respective ends of the loop within the opposite end of the clasp.

7. A connecter for attaching a bracelet end to a wrist watch or the like provided with a connecting eye, comprising a box-like clasp member having means for securing the bracelet end thereto, a loop member of ductile wire adapted to thread through said eye, the ends ofthe loop having transverse shoulders and the top portion of the clasp having an inwardly direct-ed lip for engaging said shoulders, and clamping tongues bendable inwardly onto the respective loop ends to secure the engagement of said lip and shoulders, whereby one of the tongues may be opened to release one of the loop ends.

8. A connecter for attaching a bracelet end to a wrist watch or the like provided with a connecting eye, comprising a clasp having means for securing the bracelet end thereto, a loop member of ductile wire adapted to thread through'said eye, complemental, interengaging elements on the clasp and loop ends, and cooperating members on the clasp for clamping said elements in engagement, the clamping members being independently operable so that either of the loop ends may be secured to the clasp.

Signed by me at Providence, Rhode Island,

this 12th day of December 1930.

o -IARLEs A. DOMLER. 

